The struggling Swedish brand is set to make a comeback with the PhoeniX that?s very different - and meant to be.

Saab concept flies high

02 March 2011Bruce Newton

It’s a Saab Sven, but not as you - or anyone - knows it…

Designed to shock and challenge as well as showcase the Swedish company’s new “Aeromotional” design language, the Saab PhoeniX also celebrates the company’s survival after breaking with General Motors just over a year ago.

The name PhoeniX has a double meaning, applying to both the mythical bird that rose from the ashes (apt given Saab’s near-death experience as a brand) and to the modular architecture that underpins this concept and a slew of forthcoming Saab models.

The exterior of the 2+2 coupe has some striking features including a jet canopy-inspired glasshouse, butterfly doors and side winglets that help reduce the drag co-efficient to a super-slick 0.25.

While the winglets are pure concept, the new grille and hood forms are among the styling themes likely to be seen in future Saab production cars.

So much is happening to the exterior of this car it’s a busy contrast to the cool, crisp concepts produced by former Saab’s designers Anthony Lo and Michael Mauer when GM ran the show.

“Here we wanted to really tap into the enthusiasm, the passion, the innovation of Saab and really push as far as we could go,” explained Saab’s executive design director Jason Castriota.

“It’s a bit of a rubber band and somewhere in between you find the balance of how to put that into the lineup of cars.”

Inside, the PhoeniX shows off Saab’s new IQon infotainmnet and communications system, a driver-focused layout and minimalist ‘stripped’ interior feel.

Under the skin is a 150kW 1.6-litre turbo-petrol engine secured via Saab’s new engine deal with BMW. It drives all four wheels with the assistance of Saab’s new eXWD system, which supplements the engine with a 25kW electric motor/generator that drives the rear wheels. Claimed fuel economy is just 5.0L/100km.

Castriota said he would not be concerned if some people did not like the PhoeniX: “That’s ok, you need provocation, you need to see how far you can push and then you scale back. If you start designing for what people’s tastes are today then by the time it reaches the market it will be old and forgotten already.”

Castriota admitted he would like to see a Saab coupe go on-sale, although he said the PhoeniX was too extreme for that.

“I’d love to see us have a 2+2, in the way Audi has a sporting icon with the TT.”

Also in Geneva, Saab unveiled the new-generation 9-5 SportCombi, a limited edition ‘Independence’ 9-3 cabrio celebrating the end of the GM years and some minor updates to the nine-year old 9-3. It will be replaced by an all-new model in 2012.

The 9-3 has been back on-sale in Australia since January, at the same time as Saab Cars Australia is developing a new dealer network.

The new 9-5 sedan goes on-sale in April and the SportCombi late in the year. The 9-4X cross-over should be here late 2011 or early 2012.